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Author Topic: Chassis Bracing  (Read 34012 times)

Gaz

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    • 92 XR2, 01 LL Bean Outback, 92 Concours, 86 F150
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Chassis Bracing
« on: February 16, 2017, 08:36:49 PM »

Who's built it, who's bought it?
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WashiestSnake

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    • 1991 Mercury Capri
Re: Chassis Bracing
« Reply #1 on: February 17, 2017, 05:43:12 AM »

I think im the only one here who has done any major bracing.

The braces I own are: Ultra Racing Rear Strut Bar, Ultra Racing Lower Arm Bar, Rocketmans Front Strut Bar, and Ultra Racing 26mm Rear Sway Bar.

Ultra Racing makes a few others but I havent picked them up yet.

You have to cut abit of the carpit out to put the rear strut bar on.

Just search Ultra Racing BF 323 on ebay.
I havent installed the lower arm bar yet currently Im not sure if it will fit, it looks like its a inch to short.
« Last Edit: February 17, 2017, 09:24:06 AM by WashiestSnake »
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1991 Mercury Capri 68,xxx Miles--Project(AWD)
1996 Lincoln Continental -- The Boat(Given to my Brother)

greywolf27030

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Re: Chassis Bracing
« Reply #2 on: February 17, 2017, 10:12:38 AM »

We need to talk about this tomorrow.

Jack Byrd
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Jack Byrd

socal1200r

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Re: Chassis Bracing
« Reply #3 on: March 01, 2017, 05:55:25 PM »

The braces I own are: Ultra Racing Rear Strut Bar

You have to cut abit of the carpit out to put the rear strut bar on.

Do you have any pics of this bar installed?  Other than trimming the carpet, how difficult was the installation otherwise?  Any special tools or hardware needed?
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WashiestSnake

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Re: Chassis Bracing
« Reply #4 on: March 01, 2017, 06:18:44 PM »

I dont currently have pictures of it on my car. My cars trunk is currently full, so taking pictures would be hard. However I do have pictures of a friends car who recommended the mod to me. Ill post them when I get home.

Installation:
1. Pull Carpet up to access strut, depending on your car you might need to remove the trunk top and gass struts. If you get the adjustable rear bar it should prevent the removal of the trunk for instellation, but I chose the solid one peice for better grip.

2. Remove the four strut bolts its a size 12 or something I dont recall

3. Install brace and trim the carpet as needed.

Benefits: Increases grip in corners immensly, also It helped stopped rattling in my car. The car feels much more  planted, and doesnt want to swing out as much.

One thing to note Ultra Racing is a Malasian company so its going to take atleast a week to get to you.

Difficulty out of 10: 4(Ability to use a socket and torque wrench is needed)
If you have the ability to install the front strut brace then you should be able install the rear instructions are pretty much the same.
« Last Edit: March 01, 2017, 06:33:19 PM by WashiestSnake »
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1991 Mercury Capri 68,xxx Miles--Project(AWD)
1996 Lincoln Continental -- The Boat(Given to my Brother)

WashiestSnake

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Re: Chassis Bracing
« Reply #5 on: March 01, 2017, 10:02:18 PM »


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1991 Mercury Capri 68,xxx Miles--Project(AWD)
1996 Lincoln Continental -- The Boat(Given to my Brother)

socal1200r

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    • 2000 GMC Sonoma LT4/T56; 1973 Porsche 914
Re: Chassis Bracing
« Reply #6 on: March 01, 2017, 10:34:07 PM »

Perfect!  At least I know now where to look for the mounting points. 

I'm a firm believer in the added benefits of a rear strut tower bar.  I had a 2004 Dodge Neon SRT-4, had a custom one-piece rear STB made at a metal fabrication shop, and combined with the front STB and Eibach springs, that car had VERY little body roll, and kept all four corners planted on the road.  Also installed a front and rear STB on a Merkur XR4Ti I used to have, with similar results.  For most drivers, spending the money on a rear STB, as opposed to some other kind of chassis bracing, is a good investment. 

I'm also going to look and see if it would be possible to make one for a Subaru SVX I just picked up a couple of weeks ago.  Front STB is on order, along with lowering springs, drilled/slotted rotors, pads, s/s brake lines, etc., so I'll have some time to explore that option.
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WashiestSnake

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Re: Chassis Bracing
« Reply #7 on: March 01, 2017, 10:43:08 PM »

Glad I could help! Those sound like a bunch of really cool cars, ive always wanted a XR4ti, and a SVX but low numbers and hard to find parts have always stopped me from picking one up.
Where did you get the drilled and slotted rotors from, I cant seem to find any for the Galant brake upgrade?

Ultra Racings braces are predominatly for the rear, I feel like if you combimed them all it would be very well worth it. I would buy the rest but since Ill be AWD converting my car I would end up having to sell them off eventually.
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1991 Mercury Capri 68,xxx Miles--Project(AWD)
1996 Lincoln Continental -- The Boat(Given to my Brother)

Rocketman

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Re: Chassis Bracing
« Reply #8 on: March 02, 2017, 01:00:12 AM »

Do you feel any benefit of the RSTB?
I've never bothered with it, as the Capri has a beefy brace to support the trunk that is already tied to the rear strut towers.

Front bar, yes, makes a huge difference - the towers are floating out there in the engine bay.

Don't stress too much on drilled/slotted Galant rotors. Stock rotors perform fantastic. D/S cause long-term integrity issues on a street driven car. (they like to crack, starting from the drilled sections outward) Most folks don't run the aggressive pads needed for D/S to be relevant (race pads that off-gas a lot, and need somewhere for the gasses to go)
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1.8L Turbo All Wheel Drive Capri... the "GTXR2"


WashiestSnake

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Re: Chassis Bracing
« Reply #9 on: March 02, 2017, 01:19:16 AM »

I think its a worthwhile mods. Its fairly cheap, and in my opinion was worth it. To me the ass end of the Capri could use stiffening. I noticed before installing the RSTB that at high speeds the rear would wobbile and cause alot of noise, ever since ive installed brace its gone away. One thing I have to say is it has saved my ass a few times, once when I took a corner going way faster then I should. Normally on that corner id get lift in the back in but with the brace installed it kept me planted, and helped me stay out of a ditch.
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1991 Mercury Capri 68,xxx Miles--Project(AWD)
1996 Lincoln Continental -- The Boat(Given to my Brother)

socal1200r

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    • 2000 GMC Sonoma LT4/T56; 1973 Porsche 914
Re: Chassis Bracing
« Reply #10 on: March 02, 2017, 09:58:53 PM »

Just search Ultra Racing BF 323 on ebay.

I found the item on eBay:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/181861816249?ul_noapp=true

I emailed the seller, asking to confirm that this bar would work on a 1994 Mercury Capri, and he toed the party line and said it'll only fit a Mazda 323, which I know is very similar to the Capri.  So if this is the bar that you fitted to your Capri, let me know, and I'll probably go ahead and buy it. 
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WashiestSnake

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Re: Chassis Bracing
« Reply #11 on: March 02, 2017, 10:18:22 PM »

That is indeed the bar I purchased.
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1991 Mercury Capri 68,xxx Miles--Project(AWD)
1996 Lincoln Continental -- The Boat(Given to my Brother)

DarkAngel

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Re: Chassis Bracing
« Reply #12 on: March 03, 2017, 05:27:00 AM »

I'm curious if the rear strut bar from the Mazda 323 88-89 fits on the Capri ??
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Current Project XR2 SE

To Do
(VJ 11/14), helical LSD, 5th gear cog, 2.5 exhaust
stiffer springs, heated seats, electronic booster
tracker gps, respray

WashiestSnake

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Re: Chassis Bracing
« Reply #13 on: March 03, 2017, 09:26:45 AM »

No thats the BG 323 the suspension is completely different.
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1991 Mercury Capri 68,xxx Miles--Project(AWD)
1996 Lincoln Continental -- The Boat(Given to my Brother)

DarkAngel

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Re: Chassis Bracing
« Reply #14 on: March 03, 2017, 01:24:44 PM »

So what is the width difference between the back struts for the BG and the Capri

Or better yet, what fits / works for the Capri for rear strut bracing ?
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Current Project XR2 SE

To Do
(VJ 11/14), helical LSD, 5th gear cog, 2.5 exhaust
stiffer springs, heated seats, electronic booster
tracker gps, respray
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